::12:14:07::

::: Mother :::

I open a rusty tin of preserved images
Pictures of snow angels
A spiritual paradise
It was right before her death
She had eaten a soup made of fear

I stare at the old days

There was a rainbow of luck that shone upon her
She refused to hold onto it
Instead, sent to a kingdom of aqua pleasure
Where Fur Elise was being play all day
Her favorite song

If anything could please her, I would have tried

I could lie on asphalt all day and blame myself
Or drown in barrels of effortless shame
With Mozart’s apparition whispering
”It’s not your fault”

But I know it could be

A saveless suction coup of emotions
Drawn in like lint to vacuums mouth
Not a penny or hair tie can escape

A voice of power and desperation
A thunderous outburst as timid as a mouse

Eating in bed, sleeping at dinner

Friction, tension filled oxygen
Filling the lungs of everyone around
The Presence

Did I even want to save her?
She didn’t want to save herself.

Wearing mask upon her already made mask,
She smiles

Peel off paper Mache
So we can view a bare face
Of tired wrinkles

Shallow breaths
Bright lights scream
Shouting
Directions to the special place
Of serenity

For all of us to share
We are glad you are there
And despite your decayed heart
We will miss you here

Written by: ~ Janelle Finamore